Automatic pipe-coupling head.



J. I'. WARD da G. L. DAVIDSON. AUTOMATIG ms coUrLING HEAD. APPLICATION FAILED APE. 27, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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JOHN F. WARD AND CHARLES L. DAVIDSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-TENTH TO OSCAR E. HAISLUP ANDONE-TWENTIETH TO EDWARD l?. VANCE,

BOTH OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC PIPE-COUPLING HEAD.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed April 27, 1908. Serial No. 429,510.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. W ARD am CHAnLns L. DAVIDSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Pipe-Coupling Heads, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to produce a structure by means of which the air pipes or steam hose etc., of railway cars may be automatically coupled at the time of coupling the cars together into a train.

r1`he accompanying drawings illustrate our invention, as applied to a single hose or pipe although it is to be understood that a multiplicity of passages may be provided without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Figure 1 is an axial section of a single pipe apparatus embodying our invention Fig. 2 a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,' and Fig. 3 an end elevation on a larger scale.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a head having a transversely inclined face 11 adapted to coact with the corresponding face 11 ol' a coacting head 10. Each face 11 is ilanlred at its inner end by an oppositely inclined face 12 and at its outer end by a face 13 which may conveniently be parallel with the face 12. The point formed by the faces 11 and 13 projects somewhat beyond the main body of the head 10 and the upper and lower corners are dubbed oil at 14 and 15 in opposite directions as to engage and fit the corresponding surfaces 14 and 15 which incline inwardly and toward each other into the crotch between the surfaces 11 and 12, the arrangement being such that when the two heads 10 are brought together there may be a considerable variation from normal and proper positions without interfering with the proper' automatic positioning of the two surfaces 11 against each other. Extending through each head 10 and opening into the face 1.1 is a passage 16. More than one passage may be provided if desired, the several passages being independent. Mounted within passage 16 is a three-way cock 17 by means of which connection may be made between the inner passage 16 and the transverse passage 18 which opens through the side of head 10 adjacent the pair of hooks 19 and 20, so formed as to receive an ordinary coupling head 21, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that a car equipped with our structure may be coupled into a train having ordinary flexible hose couplings.

The inner end of each head 1() is provided Awith a pair of substantially parallel arms 22, 22 which are pivotally connected, upon vertical pins 23, 23 with a pair of substantially horizontal arms 24, 24 carried by a plunger 25 which is tted within a fixed carrier or chamber 26. Mounted within carrier 26 is a spring 27 which normally urges plunger 25 outwardly, the amount of outward movement being limited by the shoulder 28 adapted to engage a hanger 29 which supports the arms 24 of the plunger 25. rl`he plunger 25 is hollow and fitted therein is a stationary piston 30 carried by a pipe 31 the arrangement being such that plunger 25 is free to be shifted axially while at the same time permitting fluid pressure to pass from tube 31 into the interior of plunger 25 and thence through the passage 32 and a hosev 33 into passage 16. rlhe hose 33 is provided at opposite ends with flanges 34 adapted to fit into corresponding recesses formed in the head 10 and plunger 25, and the hose is surrounded by a coil spring 36 which serves not only to hold the heads 34 in place in their sockets but also to somewhat stillen the ilexible hose and hold it substantially straight at the saine time not interfering with the swing of head 10 around the pivots 23.

Faces 11 may be provided, immediatelyy surrounding passages 16, with packing members 37 if desired.

In operation spring 27 tends to normally drive plunger 25 outward until shoulder 2S engages hanger 29. il] hen the two cars are brought together the two heads 10 fit into each other, the slanting surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 14 and 15 mating with each other and producing a proper alinement of the two heads, whereupon, as the cars are brought together for their 'traction coupling, the spring 27 will be compressed to about the position shown in Fig. 1. As the cars pass around curves suflicient llexibility is had around the pivot pins 23. Y

It might sometimes happen, that by reason of a broken ixture upon a coperating car or otherwise, a proper meeting of the members might not be obtained and, in order to prevent injury we therefore make the plunger 25 of such length that it will permit head 10 to be shoved entirely back under the dead head of' the car, as is clearly apparent in Fig. l. Itis al'so desirable to provide means whereby the slight vertical inequalities which may occur between trucks of adjacent cars at any time will be compensated and for this purpose we longitudinally elongate the holes 22V of' arms 2-2 which are arranged to receive the pins 23 of arms 24 thus permitting a slight vertical adjustment or swing ofthe outer end of the head 10 relative to theI arms 24.

Vile claim as our invention l.` An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantial-ly longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally u rgin said plunger outwardly, a tubular piston fitted within said plunger, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis, said tubular head having its outer end'l formed to fit within and mate with a correspondingly formed head.

2. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally u rging said plunger outwardly, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis, said tubular head having itsv outer end formed to. fit within and mate with a. correspondingly formed head., a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors of the tubular head and the plunger and extending across the vertical axisl of the tubular head, said flexible tube having a hanged head at each end and an intermediate spring.

3. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urging said plunger outwardly, a tubular piston iitted within said plunger, a tubular heady pivotally mounted, onl the plunger u; onA a substantially vertical axis, said tubullzir head havingits outer end. formed to fit within and mate with a correspondingly formed head, a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors of the tubular head and theplunger and extending across the vertical axis of the tubular head, said flexible tube having a flanged head at each end and an intermediate spring.

4. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urging said. plunger outwardly, a tubular head pivotally mounted on thef plunger u on; e. substantially vertical axis, said tubuar head having its outer end formed to fit within and mate withv al correspond'i'ngly formed head, a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors oi' the tubular headand the plunger and extending across the vertical axis of the tubular head.

5. in auto-matic hose coupling comprising amain holder arranged substantially longitud'inal'l'y of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urging said plu-nger outwardly, a tubular piston fitted within said plunger, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis., said tubular head having its outer end formed to fit within and mate with a correl spondingly formed head, a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors of the tubular head, and the plunger and extending across the vertical axis. of the tubular head.

6. An automatic hosecoupling comprising a mainl holder arranged substantially longitudinally oi' the car,'a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urging said plunger outwardly, a tubular piston fitted within said plunger, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis,y said tubular head having its outer end@ formed to fit within and mate with a correspondingly formed head, means arranged upon the tubular headl for receiving a standard hose coupling, and ay cock arranged in the tubular head a-nd adapted to. establishor disestablish communication with said last men,- tioned means.

7. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged.substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urging said plunger outwardly, a tubular head. pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis, saidtubular'head having its. outer end formed to. fit within and mate with a correspondingly formed head, al flexible tubular connection connecting the interiorsof the tu,- bular head and the plunger and extending across the vertical axisi of' the tubular head, said flexible tube having a flanged head at each end and an intermediate spring, means arranged upon the tubular head for receiving a standard hose coupling, and a cock arranged in the tubular head and adaptedI to establish or disestablish communication with said last mentioned means.

8. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally ol' the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein,l a spring normally urgingy said plunger outwardly, tubular ,iston fitted withinl said plunger, a tubular ead ivotally mounted on the plunger upon a. substantially vertical axis, said tubular head having its outer end formed to fit within and mate with ay correspondingly formed head, a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors of the tubular head and the plunger and extending across the vertical axis of the tubular head, said iiexible tube having a llanged head at each end and an intermediate spring means arranged upon the tubular head for receiving a standard hose coupling, and a cock arranged in the tubular head and adapted to establish or disestablish communication with said last mentioned means.

9. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring norma ly urging said plunger outwardly, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis, said tubular head having its outer end 'l'ormed to 'ht Within and mate with a correw spondingly formed head, a flexible tubular connection connecting the interiors of the tubular head and the plunger and extending across the vertical axis of the tubular head, means arranged upon the tubular head l'or receiving a standard hose coupling, and a cock arranged in the tubular head and adapted to establish or disestablish communication with said last mentioned means.

l0. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main holder arranged substantially longitudinally of the car, a plunger mounted in said holder and longitudinally movable therein, a spring normally urgingsaid plunger outwardly, a tubular piston fitted Within said plunger, a tubular head pivotally mounted on the plunger upon a substantially vertical axis, said tubular head having its outer end formed to fit Within and mate with a correspondingly formed head, a iiexible tubular connection connecting the interiors oi' the tubular head and the plunger and extending across the vertical axis oi' the tubular head, means arranged upon the tubular head lor receiving a standard hose coupling, and a cock arranged in the tubular head and adapted to establish or disestablish communication with said last mentioned means.

1l. An automatic hose coupling comprising a main hollow body, having a hose receptacle at the forward end of its interior, a tu bular coupling head pivotally mounted on said body on a substantially vertical axis with the rear end of its interior upon the opposite side oi' the axis relative to the lorivard end oil the interior ol' the main body, aiiexible tubing forming a connection between the tubular head and the interior ol the main body across the vertical pivot thereof, and a helical compression spring surrfnmdine` said tube and serving to hold the same in place.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands and seals at indiana olis, Indiana, this tWenty-iil'th day of April, i. D. one thousand nine hundred and eight.

JOHN F. WARD. CHARLES L. DAVIDSON. 

